Severing machine for forming tufted fabrics



Jan. 5, 1954 F. w. RIDDLE SEVERING MACHINE FOR FORMING TUFTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1954 RmDLE 2,664,921

SEVERING MACHINE FOR FORMING TUF'TED FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORQ ATTORNEY Jan. 5, F w RIDDLE SEVERING MACHINE FOR FORMING TUFTED FABRICS Filed Jan. 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N VENTOR M5 5. 313076,

ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1954 F. w. RIDDLE SEVERING MACHINE FOR FORMING TUFTED FABRICS Filed Jaii. 9. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fia/mi ZZZMZQ.

BY M. al-1:

ATTORNEY INVENTOR Patented Jan. 5, 1954 snvsiuse MA'IEHINE roe TUFTED FABRICS Frank William Riddle, Biscoe, assiignor to Aileen Mtl ls G ompany, Biscoe; N. 6.; a comboration of Delaware Atputautn urinary 9, 1951, Serial mm (on. nix-251) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus and methods for making tufted fabrics; and more particularly to the severing oi continuous tuft cords, employed in the manufacture or such fabrics after weaving of the cords into the fabric;

It is a common expedient in the manufacture of fabrics of this character to feed continuous tuft cords, each comprising a bundle of threads, in parallel relation and in the direction of and above the Warp threads of the fabric. By suitable manipulation of the loom harness, controlled by the feeding of an appropriate pattern to the loom dobby or the like, the tuft cords are depressed at intert als, together with selected warp threads; t6 provide a shed for the passage of the shuttle; whereby the cords are woven into the fabric at spaced points in the length thereof. Intermediate these points the cords are free, constituting loops, and the loo s thus formed in the cords are disposed in rows; generally aligned transversely of the fabric; Tufts are then formed by severing the loops, thereby forming the tuft ends;

This is a conventionaloperation, commonly performed on ordinary power looms, the cutting of the tuft loops being effected manually by mov ing a cutting tool across the fabric to sever the aligned loops, one transverse row of loops being cut on each stroke of the tool. It is a feature of the instant invention that the cutting is er: fected automatically and in such a manner as to provide greater accuracy in the cutting and in= creased uniformity in the length 01' the tufts;

It is therefore; an object of the invention to provide apparatus; either as a component of a loom; or as an attachment for or an adjunct to a loom, whereby tuft cords woven at intervals into a fabric so as to provide tuft loops, may be severed substantially midway of eachloo'p, in combination with means whereby such apparatus is operated automatically and in timed relation to the lengthwise advance of the fabric.

More specifically, it is an object of the 1m vention to provide; in a loo'ni suitable for use in the manufacture of tufted fabrics; a cutting de vice reciprocable transversely of the fabric and in timed relation to the operation of the loo'ni, to eflect cuttingof successive rows of aligned loops on each transverse stroke in either direction of the cutting device.

As; the result of the action of the temples, which apply transverse tension to the wovenrab= ric the weft threads are usually curved \vardly to some extent adjacent the salvage; and

2 there is correspon -me rearwaiuul s iaeemnt at each side or, the fabric or the p ints 'at which the tuft cores are woven into the fabric. thus the tuft loops are not preciselt aligned in each transverse raw, and cannot be severed by transverse motion of a cutting device in a 's'ti'algh't line.

The present construction is such that substantlal displacement of the eiittln elements fore anu aft of the mine is neonate-a curing the transverse stroke whereby this uistortlofi of the fabric is compensated; the butting e 'me'n'ts being caused to follow the rse rows or tufts from one edge 01 the fabric were other.

In my prior application, "serial No. 134,554, men December 22- 19319; a; have nest-rites method of controlling the transv e movement of the cutting device so as" to p are the asplication of undue strain the fabric du" the cutting of tuft loops adjacent the 'seliva present invention contemplates a suiiiilifi method or aeulevmg thls 1t, iris/'6 l ii g' tu' employment or two cutting elements, the cute ting stroke se ne initiated at one selvaige proceeding to the opposite sel'vag tne seven of the several tuft loops adjacent theselvae at the beginning of eachc'u'tting stroke b'eirlg vented f the structure of the cutting device and by terminating each "utting strolrepe'fore the cutting 'tlevice As ilvlll hereinafter by the first cuttirig e f i he l t; "i s 1 l r i b t id i I at at easement a i method less if fluent r versal of theunvlng' motor is required and uniform cutting rsults'. v, M a

further feature or t e instant laces;

ent, but are sever It is a ti ofithat the lens 11 (if the cutting unit, measured the aire' ct oficf travel or t e fabric, is sutstanti'ally s ortened so as to permit the mounting of the more above the usual breast beam of the learn, wher by the apparatus requires substantially less clearance in front of the loom than was needed for the apparatus of the earlier ap i efiqnl urther features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description,- taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure I is a fragmentary plan view or art 81 a 100m illustrating mode of practicing the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the loom shown in plan in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5' is a sectional view of a detail taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of reduction gearing employed to traverse the cutting device;

Figure '7 is a horizontal section on the line 1-1 of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 and Figure 9 is a wiring diagram suitable for controlling the operation of the claimed apparatus.

known practice. In accordance with the instant invention, the severing of the tuft loops, formed in the usual way, is effected by automatic mechanism about to be described, embodying the inventive concept.

The automatic mechanism, which may be con sidered either as an attachment or an adjunct to a conventional loom, is located, with the exception of certain control switches, at the front of the loom and may be mounted on a structural part 35 of the loom frame, sometimes called the breast beam, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Thus a guide plate 36 and a stationary rack 60, bolted to the guide plate, are secured rigidly to the breast beam of the loom by bolts 31, which extend through aligned apertures in the guide plate and are received in corresponding threaded In order to promote an understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the drawings and specific language is used to describe the same. It will be understood, however, that further modifications and alterations of the illustrated structure are contemplated, such as would normally occur to one skilled in the art, and that the descriptive language is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a conventional type of dobby loom, the details of which form no part of the instant invention, but

may be .varied widely. Thus the warp threads 8, carried on a beam at the rear of the loom, are fed forwardly through a reed l5, and are raised and lowered by harness l6 which is controlled by jacks H, the latter being selectively rendered operable by a pattern chain 20, fed through a dobby 2 I The cloth or fabric 24 is passed over a roughened roll 25 and wound on a cloth roll 26, temples 28 being provided at each side of the fabric to apply transverse tension to the latter in the known manner. A loom of generally similar type and mode of operation is shown in the patent to Cobb 1,383,076, in which the pattern chain is of the type in which pins are selectively inserted to control the operation of the jacks, and thereby the harness.

As hereinbefore indicated, the invention is concerned with the production of tufted fabrics which are formed by weaving into the fabric tuft cords or ropes, each comprising a considerable number of threads. the fabric at spaced intervals, thereby forming tuft loops, which are severed, leaving the free ends or tufts. Thus as shown in Figures 1 and 3, tuft cords 30 are fed forwardly over and in the general direction of the warp threads l8. lowering the tuft cords 30 at intervals, each cord is woven into the fabric at spaced points 33, forming a free loop 34 intermediate these points. Since all of the tuft cords are lowered and woven in at the same instants, adjacent loops are substantially aligned, although some distortion of the fabric, and resultant rearward displacement (in a direction opposite to the direction of advance of the fabric) of the loops occurs adjacent the selvage, as the result of lateral tension applied to the fabric by temples 28. Thus in order to cut the tuft loops, a substantially straight cutting stroke may be taken across the fabric and over the major portion of the width of the fabric, but as the cutting elements approach the selvage, they must be allowed to move rearwardly to compensate for the lack of alignment of the loops at either side of the fabric. The manufacture of tufted fabrics in this manner, the cutting of the tuft loops bein performed manually, is a well The cords are woven into apertures formed in the breast plate, suitable spacers 38 surrounding the bolts 31 and being interposed between the forward face of the breast plate and the guide plate 36 to position the latter.

A drive unit comprising an electric motor is mounted in annular collars 48, and a gear housing 5| abuts one of these collars, the housing and collars being secured together by bolts 49 extending through apertures in the same, spacers surrounding the portion of the bolts intermediate the two collars 48.

Within the gear housing 5| is a train of re duction gearing, shown more particularly in Figure 6, which serves to transmit toward torque at reduced speed from the motor to a driven shaft H which is suitably journaled in the housing and extends exteriorly thereof. Thus, motor shaft 81 extends into housing 5| and carries'a pinion 68, the latter driving a gear "secured to shaft 1| through a train of three double idler gears 69, each idler gear having a driven toothed portion of relatively large diameter and a driving toothed portion of small diameter, as is conventional in reducing spur gearing trains. Secured to the outer end of shaft TI, and disposed exteriorly of housing 5|, is a gear 12 which meshes with a mating gear 13. Gear 13 and pinion 14 are mounted on a common stub shaft 64, which is suitably journaled in a casting or bracket 65, the latter being bolted to the collars 48, and thus secured rigidly to motor 50.

Bracket 85 is provided with a vertical depending flange 66 disposed in parallelism with and adjacent to guide plate 36. Flanged rollers 53 are journaled in bracket 85 and are interlocked with the upper and lower edges of guide plate 38, so that bracket and the entire drive unit are so supported on the guide plate as to roll on the latter transversely of the loom. It will be appreciated that on energization of the motor 50, the pinion 14 is driven from the motor and reacts against the stationary rack to propel the drive unit across the loom.

Secured to the annular collar 48 is a bracket 52 which supports, adjacent the rearward end of the drive unit, a bearing block 18. Slidably mounted in block 18 is a bearing 8| for a spindle 83, and mounted on spindle 83 is a pair of circular cutting blades 88 and 85. A pulley 84 is also mounted on spindle 83, intermediate the cutting blades, the structure being shown more particularly in Figures 7 and 8.

The lower part of the cutting edge of each of the blades 80 and 85 projects into a slot'86 in an elongated shoe 88. The shoes 88 are secured rigidly to the underside of bearing 8|, so as to partake of sliding movement with the tern chain, and displacement of the cutting device is terminated to the bumper device shown in Figure 5. The cutting device remains stationary until the fabric has advanced sufficiently to bring into alignment with the rearward shoe 88 the next adjacent transverse row of tuft loops. Switch B is then closed, and the cutting device moves to the left until it reaches a position ad jacent the left-hand selvage, switch B being opened by the pattern chain as the terminal position is approached, and movement of the cutting device being terminated by engagement with the left-hand bumper. During this cutting stroke, the rearward knife 80 will cut all of the tuft loops which it intersects except the three or four loops adjacent the left-hand selvage; the associated shoe 88 overlies these loops, which have been advanced beneath the shoe, and which are-therefore, not engaged by the knife. The forward knife 85 will intersect, during this cutting stroke, tuft loops which have already been out until the last few tuft cords are reached, and these will be severed by knife 85. When the fabric has advanced through a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent transverse rows of tuft loops, switch D will again be closed to effect displacement of the cutting device to the right until the right-hand terminal position is reached. During this cutting stroke, the rearward knife 80 will cut all of the tuft loops which it intersects except the first three or four loops adjacent the right-hand selvage, which lie under the shoe 88; forward knife 85 will out only the loops in the several cords adjacent the righthand selvage which were not cut during displacement of the cutting device on the previous cutting stroke.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that each cutting operation except the initial one is begun at a point inwardly of the selvage to minimize strain on the fabric, that on each cutting stroke the forward knife cuts all of the cords except the few adjacent the selvage from which the cutting stroke proceeds, while the rearward knife cuts only the few cords adjacent the far selvage which have been left uncut on the preceding cutting stroke. This mode of operation is simpler in several respects than that proposed in my prior application, which employed only one knife or cutting element.

As in the apparatus shown in'my prior application, the mounting of the driving motor on the traveling cutting device affords a convenient method of rotating the cutting blade at a relatively high speed, and traversing the cutting device at a relatively low speed, from a common power source and with the least structural complication. It will be appreciated, however, that in its broader aspect the invention is not limited to this preferred embodiment, but envisions various other means and provisions for propelling the cutting device and manipulating the blade, such as would occur to those skilled in the field to which the invention relates. Similarly, other control systems, operable in timed relation to the rate of feed of the fabric, may be substituted for that illustrated and described herein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An attachment for a loom on which is woven a fabric having tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, said cords being woven in the fabric at spaced intervals in the length of the fabric so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned transversely of the fabric, said attachment comprising, in combination, guide means mounted on the loom and extending across the fabric, a cutting device mounted on said guide means for reciprocation lengthwise of said guide means and across said loops to engage and sever the latter, said cutting device comprising a pair of rotatable cutting blades positioned to engage and sever concurrently loops in adjacent transverse rows of loops, a motor for rotating said blades, and an operative driving connection between said motor and said guide means to propel said cutting device lengthwise of said guide means in one direction, and, after advance of the fabric through a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent rows of tuft loops, to propel said cutting device lengthwise of said guide means in the other direction, and means operable in timed relation with said loom for energizing said motor to effect reciprocation of said cutting device on said guide means, whereby said loops are successivel enaged and severed by said cutting blades on movement of said cutting device across the fabric in each direction to form the tufts.

2. An attachment for a loom on which is woven a fabric having tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, said cords being woven in the fabric at spaced intervals in the length of the fabric so as to provide tuf-t loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned transversely of the fabric, said attachment comprising, in combination, guide means mounted on the loom and extending across the fabric, a cutting device mounted on said guide means for reciprocation lengthwise of said guide means and across said loops to engage and sever the latter, said cutting device comprising a pair of cutting blades spaced lengthwise of said fabric by substantially the distance between adjacent transverse rows of tuft loops, a motor, and an operative driving connection between said motor and said guide means to propel said cutting device lengthwise of said guide means in one direction, and, after advance of the fabric through a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent rows of tuft loops, to propel said cutting device lengthwise of said guide means in the other direction, and means operable in timed relation with said loom for energizing said motor to effect reciprocation of said cutting device on said guide means, whereby said loops are successively engaged and severed by said cutting blades on movement of said cutting device across the fabric in each direction to form the tufts.

3. An attachment for a loom on which is woven a fabric having tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, said cords being woven in the fabric at spaced intervals in the length of the fabric so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned transversely of the fabric, said attachment comprising, in combination, guide means mounted on the loom and extending across the fabric, a cutting device mounted on said guide means for reciprocation lengthwise of said guide means and across said loops to engage and sever the latter, said cutting device comprising a pair of rotatable cutting blades, a pair of shoes dimensioned to pass within and through said loops, each shoe being positioned adjacent and beneath one of said blades to guide the blades into cutting engagement with the loops, the blades and their respective shoes being spaced lengthwise of the fabric for concurrent engagement with the loops in each of 9.. two transverse rows of loops, and a motor for rotating said blades, and means operable in timed relation with said loom for energizing said motor to propel said cutting devices on said guide means in one direction, and, after advance of 5 the fabric through adistan'ce corresponding to the spacing between adjacent rows of tuft loops, to propel said-cutting device lengthwise of said guide means in the other. direction, whereby said leops are successively engaged and severed by said cutting blades on movement of said cutting device across the fabric in each direction to form the tufts.

4; Anattachment for a loom on which is woven ebriq havin tuf ere l ing p rallel, to th fabricwarp, saidcords being woven in the fabric at spaced intervals in the'lengthof the fabric 1 an ex ndin st es the ab a set 3 31 3 X} 0 can g i lfi 3 .9 19 for, 21 at .n len thwise f sai a e mean nd saidloops to engage and sever the latter, and means operable i'n timed relation with said loom for propelling said cutting device on said guide means in 0. .8 direction, and, after. advance of the fabric through a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent rows of tuft loops, to propel said cutting device lengthwise of said guide means in the other direction, whereby said loops are severed to form a tufted fabric, said cutting device comprising a pair of shoes dimensioned and shaped to pass between said tuft loops and said fabric, a cutting blade positioned adjacent each shoe for engaging and cutting said loops while the associated shoe is passing between the loop to be cut and the fabric, the blades and the respective shoes being spaced lengthwise of the fabric for concurrent engagement with the loops in each of two transverse rows of loops, a common support for said shoes and said blades, and means mounting said support for displacement lengthwise of said fabric, whereby said shoes may guide said blades into the correct position for the severing of the loops on movement of said cutting device across the fabric in each direction.

5. In the method of forming a tufted fabric by weaving into the fabric, at spaced intervals in the length thereof, a plurality of tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned in rows transversely of the fabric, the step which comprises severing a row of tuft loops while the fabric is under lateral tension, by moving concurrently a pair of cutting edges transversely of the fabric while retaining the same in such spaced relation, measured lengthwise of the fabric, that the respective cutting edges are caused to engage and cut loops in adjacent transverse rows of loops, beginning each cutting stroke at a point inward of the adjacent selvage and beyond at least one tuft cord, and continuing the stroke to the far selvage, and advancing the fabric by substantially the distance between adjacent transverse rows of loops intermediate successive cutting strokes.

6. In the method of forming a tufted fabric by weaving into the fabric, at spaced intervals in the length thereof, a plurality of tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned in rows transversely of the fabric, the step which comprises severing a row of tuft loops while the fabric is underlateral tension, by movingconcurrently a pair of cutting edges transversely of the fabric while retaining the same in such spaced relation, measured lengthwise of the fabridthat the respective cut ting edges are caused to engage cut loops in adjacent transverse rows cfloops, beginning pensate for such distortion.

by weavinginto the fabric, at spaced intervals in the length thereof, a plurality of tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned in rows transversely of the fabric,. the steps which comprise severing a row of tuft loops while the fabric isunder lateral tension, by moving a pair of cutting edges, while in respective alignment with adjacent transverse rows of loops, from a point substantially inward of a first selvage to the second selvage, advancing the fabric relative to the cutting edges by a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent transverse rows of loops, and thereafter moving the cutting edges in the opposite direction, from a point substantially inward of the second selvage to the first selvage.

8. An attachment for a loom on which is woven a fabric having tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, said cords being woven in the fabric at spaced intervals in the length of the fabric so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned transversely of the fabric, said attachment comprising, in combination, guide means mounted on the loom and extending across the fabric, a cutting device mounted on said guide means for reciprocation lengthwise of said guide means and across said loops to engage and sever the latter, said cutting device comprising a pair of rotatable cutting blades, a pair of shoes dimensioned to pass within and through said loops, each shoe being positioned adjacent and beneath one of said blades to guide the blades into cutting engagement with the loops, the blades and their respective shoes being spaced lengthwise of the fabric for concurrent engagement with the loops in two adjacent transverse rows of loops, and a motor for rotating said blades, means operable in timed relation with said loom for energizing said motor to effect reciprocation of said cutting device on said guide means, whereby said loops are successively engaged and severed by said cutting blades to form the tufts, and means terminating movement in each direction of said cutting device in a position such that said shoes extend inwardly beyond the outermost tuft cords, whereby such cords are not engaged and severed by said blades on the succeeding cutting stroke.

9. An attachment for a loom on which is woven a fabric having tuft cords lying parallel to the fabric warp, said cords being woven in the fabric at spaced intervals in the length of the fabric so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned in rows transversely of the fabric, said attachment comprising,

g of the fabric to corn;

7. In the method of forming a tufted fabric in combination, guide means mounted on the loom and extending across the fabric, a cutting device mounted on said guide means for reciprocation lengthwise of said guide means and across said loops to engage and sever the latter, and means operable in timed relation with said loom for effecting reciprocation of said cutting device on said guide means, whereby said loops are severed to form a tufted fabric, said cutting device comprising a pair of shoes dimensioned and shaped to pass between said tuft loops and said fabric, a cutting blade positioned adjacent each shoe for engaging and cutting said loops while the associated shoe is passing between the loop to be cut and the fabric, and means for retaining said cutting devices, immediately prior to each cutting stroke, in a position such that the next adjacent uncut row of loops passes beneath the rearward shoe, so that the first few loops in each row remain uncut by the rearward of said cutting blades.

10. In a method of forming a tufted fabric by weaving into the fabric, at spaced intervals in the length thereof, a. plurality of tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, so as to provide tuft loops, the loops in adjacent cords being substantially aligned in rows transversely of the fabric, the steps which comprise severing a row 12 of tuft loops while the fabric is under lateral tension, by moving a pair of cutting edges across the fabric while said cutting edges are in respective alignment with separate transverse rows of loops, advancing the fabric relative to the cutting edges by a distance corresponding to the spacing between adjacent transverse rows of loops, thereafter moving the cutting edges across the fabric in the opposite direction, and preventing operating cutting engagement of the rearward of said cutting edges and the loops immediately adjacent that selvage from which the cutting stroke is made.

FRANK WILLIAM RIDDLE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 606,406 Daymont June 28, 1898 1,103,838 Rehfuss et a1 July 14, 1914 1,970,365 Dudley et al Aug. 14, 1934 2,192,410 Moore et a1 Mar. 5, 1940 2,598,578 McCutchen et a1. May 27, 1952 2,598,579 McCutchen et a1. May 27, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 674,853 Germany Apr. 24, 1939 

